The Canadian government has confirmed its commitment to introducing an online passport renewal system in the near future, following a similar initiative rolled out in the United States. While the U.S. has already launched its online passport renewal program, Canadian residents are still waiting for the service, which was initially announced for Fall 2023 but faced delays.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) spokesperson Julie Lafortune revealed that the original launch was postponed after system assessments revealed vulnerabilities. Despite this, Lafortune reassured Canadians that the government remains focused on providing a secure online passport renewal option.
“Online passport renewals are not available at this time; however, the Government of Canada is committed to offering secure online passport service options for Canadians in the near future, ”While no specific release date was provided, Lafortune stated that any updates on the system’s launch will be communicated to the public.
Once operational, eligible Canadians will be able to renew their passports, pay fees, and upload passport photos online. Until then, Canadians must continue to renew their passports either by mail or in person.
The United States’ new online passport renewal system, which became fully operational on Wednesday, is available to adult passport holders whose documents have expired within the last five years or are set to expire in the next 12 months.